Primary care doctors are considered the backbone of our health care system. But in many parts of Maine — especially in rural counties — there's a serious shortage of primary care doctors. And this shortage is only expected to get worse over time as more and more practicing physicians reach retirement age. Increasingly, young doctors are migrating to urban areas to practice. But the news isn't all bad. There are efforts underway to bring more doctors to rural Maine, including a five-year old partnership between Maine Medical Center and Tufts University, and a longstanding commitment to rural health at the University of New England. Take a look at this issue and some of those programs, and learn what else must be done.
Host Jennifer Rooks speaks with:
- Dr. George 'Bud' Higgins, Department of Emergency Medicine at Maine Medical Center, professor at Tufts University.
- Nick Smith, Bowdoin College undergraduate and medical student at the Boston University School of Medicine.
- Erika Ziller, Senior Research Associate and Deputy Director, Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine.
- Dr. Guy DeFeo, Associate Dean for Clinical Education at the UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine, is available and eager to participate. He manages the clinical training for all our medical students and works with hospitals and clinical sites throughout the state. He's very articulate, well-versed in the issues, and will be a great addition to the program. He is also himself a graduate of UNE's medical school (class of 1987).
